Jakob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy (3 February 1809 – 4 November 1847), born and widely known as Felix Mendelssohn, was a German composer, pianist, organist and conductor of the early Romantic period. A grandson of the philosopher Moses Mendelssohn, Felix Mendelssohn was born into a prominent Jewish family, although initially he was raised without religion and was later baptised as a Reformed Christian.
Mendelssohn was recognised early as a musical prodigy, but his parents were cautious and did not seek to capitalise on his talent. Mendelssohn enjoyed early success in Germany, where he also revived interest in the music of Johann Sebastian Bach, and in his travels throughout Europe. He was particularly well received in Britain as a composer, conductor and soloist, and his ten visits there – during which many of his major works were premiered – form an important part of his adult career. His essentially conservative musical tastes, however, set him apart from many of his more adventurous musical contemporaries such as Franz Liszt, Richard Wagner and Hector Berlioz.
The Leipzig Conservatoire (now the University of Music and Theatre Leipzig), which he founded, became a bastion of this anti-radical outlook. Mendelssohn wrote symphonies, concerti, oratorios, piano music and chamber music. His best-known works include his “Overture and incidental music for A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, the “Italian Symphony”, the “Scottish Symphony”, the overture “The Hebrides”, his mature “E minor Violin Concerto”, and his “String Octet”. His “Songs Without Words” are his most famous solo piano compositions. After a long period of relative denigration due to changing musical tastes and anti-Semitism in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, his creative originality has now been recognised and re-evaluated. He is now among the most popular composers of the Romantic era.
Here is a phenomenal performance by Janine Jansen of the Violin Concerto in E minor op, 64 with the BBC Symphony Orchestra (at the BBC Proms). There is written commentary as it was originally aired by BBC that outlines the major features of the work.
Wagner waited until after Mendelssohn died in 1847, before he launched his first vitriolic and anti-Semitic attack in 1850. What a hero - attacking a dead young man :(
ReplyDeleteEven had there not been any anti-Semitism around, Wagner was relentless in his campaign...and successful. Thankfully, as you note, Mendelssohn has been reevaluated since the war.
Absolutely marvelous performance by a gifted young musician! I certainly appreciated the subtitled commentary, it added insight into the music.
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